Spinning top



Nov. 3, 1931. \w. w. MOCALL SPINNING TOP Filed Oct. 2. 1930 INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEY.

- /7475'ess Patented Nov. 3, 1931 wArLAcE iir ohnn,

oFxA vsAs m, mrssoum f srmmive TOP I minim filedfletober 2, 1930 seriarnais'sszo. 5 i

l I invention 1 relates {to iii pinn n t p -i ltfrelates particularly to atype of top,

- 1 such'as' is illustratedand described in an ape a plieation filedibyl manag s 20, 1930,,Serial n m er 476,513, audio-m han s p n ningthe'same.

a ,sp'in on'the floor or other suitable even surl My present invention relates particularly a i velem qhan sm bn Spin in p on [its ,initialjsupport said n eohanism providingnovel means whichthe top issegcurelyjheld on its nit al; support, revolved thereon, and thenlautomatically released from the holding; inech'anism a'nd tperrnitted toreleas'e itself from saidliniti'al support. i ,Myinvention provides further-a top, of

' V-generalf ellipsoidal :shape having novel means which it is first revolved around:

its minor axis on a suitable support onlwhi ch Ineans, an d permitted to splinffreely on an tieal; I 1 f p n i 1 wh hi s m e; cheap,

durable; strong, not; likely} to geti out of order, and which will .imparta high speed;

1 revolution to the top;

hereinafter fully described: andclaimed.

n he a c mp ny ng; "W nesfw ichYillustrates the I preferred embodimentuof, ny

invention, r

3 r "'1' l 1",? {Fig 2 is a side elevation -of .thejsame -with 7 the :parts in V operative positions. a Y F 3 side l va jwnef heme-e dle and spool, the top being shown released disposed, will almost at once assume a ,posiit isreleasably held until the initial revolving operation has been effected,afterv whichjit is automatically released from the holding .xMy invention provides tf dikeij top:

tlie propelling theatres and. spoolbeing released, from the top string. v Fig. fi is asideelevationof the top, spindle and spool, the top being shown still engagedv 1 I with the propelling member, and the latter and the spool being released from the top string. j 1 Fig. 5, is'a'section 'onvthe line 5 5 of Fig 2.1;

ig. 6 is a side elevationgof my improved 1 topshown in the spinning positionin wbieh its inajor axis is vertical. l I 1; i i Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the propelling member removed from the spool.

" Simila1"characters of reference designate similar partsin the different views 11 designatesthe of, thetop, which is ellipsoidal in shape being longer than wide with'frounded spinning ends and convex be tween its-ends; A 4 v,

A B designates then a-jor axis of the top, and C D the n'inor axis' thereof.

'Ifhe top 1,-which has the shape of a late spheroid, if .spun rapidly around its niinor" axis CD, with the latter; vertioally;

tion at;right"angles to its original position,

'as shown in Fig.6, in which the-majorfaxis anism illustrated in the drawings.

In the spinning mechanism illustrated in;

the drawings, there is provided. aspindle comprising a rodf2; having at its upper endv a handle The "spindle is. adapted to, be p I releasably inserted i'n'a hole 4 inithe top;1; "The novel features of my invention j e" suchfhol'e"beingcoincidental with the rninor For initially re olving he top 1 tn the spindle 2; there is revoluble'on the spindle 2,

v a s just below'the handle 3,5 spool5. *For li'r'nitiFig ll is a centralivertieal sectional View; of myfin provedf top "and spinning; mechal- To revolve the. top 'l'rwhen the spool '5 is' revolved, the spool has mounted on it a "resil' ientpropelling n ember, which, as shown;

comprises a spring wire 7, which extends lonlatter is-wound around the spool 5,'t o be pressedtowardthe" spool and to a position the spool;

gitudinally-through a longitudinal peripheral groove 8 in thespool 5. The upper end of V the spring wire or propellingmember 7 is extended over the top of the spool 5, and has its upper end downwardly turned and extended into a hole provided therefor in the top of In its-free condition, the. spring wire 7 extends downwardlyand. outwardly belowthe' lower end of the spool 5, the lower end of the" wire 7 having ahook or inwardly turned por-.

tion 9, which is adapted to enter a peripheral hole'lO in the top 1 at one side of. and

adjacent to andinclining toward the spindle receiving hole 4;, Fig. 1.1 Normally the propelling wire 7 will assume the positionfshownv in Fig.3, in which the hook9 isout o'f en;

gagementwith the top 1. Thewire 7 ,how-

ever, is adapted tobe 'engaged'by-a flexible member,such as a: top string 1'1,when*thc' in which the hook 9will enter theinclin'ed hole'110,FigI1,thus releasably lockingly'hold-i 1 and? serving to revolve thetop, when the' string'll is pulled ofi" the spool to revolve thetop lfroni sliding ofi the spindle 2,

I In spinningthe'top, the top stringll, has

onefen'd inserted in thei'upper part of the groove 8, and then wound around the spool 5, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2L The winding of the string 11'on the; spool 5' will press inWardlyEthe free end oft'he spring wire 7 y to its operative position, shown in Figs." 1

and 2i' The top 1 is then slipped on the spindle 2 to a position in which the hook 9' will enter theinclined hole 10, Figs. 1 and 2. The top will be held'by the hook 9 from slipping 4o from the spindle 2". I

Then thestring 11 is pulled rapidly from the spool 5, thusrapidly. revolving the spool sition until it stops.

5' and, through the spring wire 7, the top 1 on thespindle 2. When the string 11 has beenpulled. clear of the spool 5,'the spring wire 7 will spring automatically, by reason of its tension, to the position shown infFig. 3, in which position the hook'Q-will'pass outof the inclined hole '10. Th'etop 1 being thus I freed from'the-s pring wire 7 will slip from the spindle 2, and for a short time will re-1 volve on thefloor or other'even surface with its maj e15; axis horizontal,

The rapidirevolving of the top 1 win Case it toassume the position shown in Fig.-v 6, in

'whichposition, its major axisA Bwi1l be vertical. and its minor-axis C .D horizontal.

'Thetop will then spin in this last'namedi po-F By providing the automaticallyreleasing spring wire 7to'hold; the top while thestring 11 is wound, the operator does not need to hold the toponthe spindle 2, and the'top may be carried in the pocket engaged operatively with the spindle 2 and spring wire 7 without the string 11 unwinding. e

As shown in Fig. 1, the hole'lO may have fitted in it a metal bushing12, tominimize wear of the top by the spring wire7.

By having the spindle 2 projecting, as

shown, below the bottom of the top-'1, the

spindle maybe'pressedat its lowerend firmly against the surface onwhich the top is to be spun without such pressure being transmitted to the top. J hen t-hespindle is so held, thetop can be spun. Without its describing a; largecircle, in arelatively small area. By

having the resilient wire 7 hold the'top spaced from the lower end of the spindle 2,

the top will be heldffrom resting'on the floor.

' It wilt be noted thatthe? top is revoluble on the spindle without longitudinal move 'ment in any planetransverseto the spindle for the full range of movement of the top lengthwise ofthe'spindle, and isflrevoluble for'such full range of mjovementindepend- 1 ently of the spindle.

1 I donotlimit my invention to the structure shown and described-,as modifications, witl1- in the'scopevof the appended claims, may be nadewithout departing from the spirit of my invention..." i m "WhatIclaim is: -f- Y 1. In a spinningtop, a spindle, top rev ble member adaptedto be woundTon said spool forrevolving'the latter, and when so wound engagingand forcing said pro pelling member into drivmgand holding en-' 'g iit With said top.

v2: 111 a sp nning top, a spindle, a top'revoluble}, thereon andremovable therefrom at one end thereof; a spool revoluble on said splndle, a resilient propelling member carried by sardspool and normally disengaged from said' topan'd" movable into driving engage.- ment therewith and 1n such engagement holdi'ng saidfitopTon said spindle, anda flexible member adapted tobeflwound on said spool-for revolving the latter and when so wound en gaging and pressing said propelling" member into driving and holding engagement with 's'aidrtop. Y I l g 3. A top havinga spindle receiving hole and provided with aperipheral hole inclined to the first named hole, a spindlereleasablyv insertible in said spindle receiving hole, a

spool revolubleon. said spindle; a resilient propelling member carried by 1 said spool and normally disengaged from said top and movable into said inclined hole and when ,in said inclined holeholding saidtop' from moving ofi from said; spindle, and {when revolved with said spooland so engaged with said top revolving the latter, and a top string adapted to be wound on said spool for revolving the spooland when so w'oundforcing said propelling member into and holding itinsaid inclined hole. f 4:; A top having a spindle receiving hole anda peripheral hole inclined thereto, a spin- 7 dlereleasably insertible into said spindle receiving hole, a spool revoluble on said spindle and adapted to have wound thereon a top string for'so revolving said spool, and a resilient propelling member. carried by said spooland havinga hooked end normally dis engaged. from said top but movable into a position in which said hooked end will enter said inclined hole and hold the top on said 'spindle,- said resilient, meniber being adapted to bepressed into' the engaging position by said top string, when the latter is wound in operative positionon said spool.

W i 5. A top longer'thanwvide having round- "ed spinning ends and convex between its ends, 'a support on which the top s releasa'bly revoluble around its minor; axis, aspool revolu- 'ble onsaid support and adaptedto be en-' gaged and' revolved by atop string wound thereon,anda propelling member carried by qed and {said spool and adapted to "be enga moved by said top' string, when the latter is.

wound on said-spool, so as to releasably engager said top at one side .of'the minor axis thereof, and arranged, when so engaged, to

hold and revolve saidtop on said. support,

engaging from said top.

6. Atop longer than wide having round and when disengaged from said string dised spinning ends and, convex between its ends, a support on which thetop is releasably i-ev olublearound its minor axis, a spool rev- .oluble'on said support and adapted to be engaged and revolved byatop string adapted ing thetop and revolvingit on saidspindle,

and normally movable from engagement with said top but adapted to be pressed into engaging position with *the top by said top string, when the latter is wound on said spool.

.8. In a spinning top, atop having a hole 'therethrough, a spindle adapted to be extended through said hole and to project at its lower end from the bottom of said top, said top being revoluble on said spindle and slidable therefrom off said projecting' end, and means for releasablyholding said top on said spindle spaced from said lower end .and for revolving said top on andpermitting it to so 'slide from said spindle after such revolution has been effected.

9. In a spinning top, a support on which said top is revoluble and releasable therefrom, said support being adapted, when supporting said top to project at its lower end below the bottom of said top, and means for releasably holding said top on said support spaced from said lower end thereof and for revolving said'top on and permitting it to be release'd'therefrom after such revolution has been effected.

o 10. An: ellipsoidal top having a hole alined with its minor axis and extending entirely through said'top, a support having a spindle removably insertible through said hole and to be woundthereon, and a resilientpropel ling member carried by said spool, and by its resiliency being heldnormallydisengaged from said top, but. adapted to be engaged and pressed by said top string, when the latv ter is Wound on said spool, into engagement with said top atone side of; the minor axis thereof, and having means, when so engaged with said'top, for holding the latter and re- 7 volving it on said S p I Jed spinning ends and convex between its ends and having a spindle receiving hole coin- 7. A top'longer than wide having roundciding with its minor 'axis and having'a'peripheral hole at one side of and inclined toward said spindle receiving hole, a spindle releasably insertible into said spindle receiving hole, a spoolrevoluble on said spindle and adapted to have a top string wound therei on for revolving said spool on said spindle,

and "a resilientfpropelling member carried v by said spool and having a hooked! end adaptedto enter saidinclined hole for hold fadapted to have its lower end projecting below thebottom of said top, said top being revoluble without longitudinal movement on said, spindle in a plane transverse to said 

